Question

Find the magnitude of the sum of these two vectors

Answer 1

 

These rules for summing vectors were applied to free-body diagrams in order to determine the net force (i.e., the vector sum of all the individual forces). Sample applications are shown in the diagram below.


 

In this unit, the task of summing vectors will be extended to more complicated cases in which the vectors are directed in directions other than purely vertical and horizontal directions. For example, a vector directed up and to the right will be added to a vector directed up and to the left. The vector sumwill be determined for the more complicated cases shown in the diagrams below.



There are a variety of methods for determining the magnitude and direction of the result of adding two or more vectors. The two methods that will be discussed in this lesson and used throughout the entire unit are:

the Pythagorean theorem and trigonometric methodsthe head-to-tail method using a scaled vector diagram